ASPEN Expert Available to Comment on Medical Errors Related to Clinical Nutrition Support

Overlooked Malnutrition Diagnoses or Nutrition Interventions Should Never be Deadly

May 10, 2016, Silver Spring, MD— In light of the recent Johns Hopkins study indicating that medical errors are now the third largest cause of death behind heart disease and cancer, Peggi Guenter, PhD, RN, FAAN is available for comment. Guenter, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Quality, and Advocacy at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), can speak to the nutrition support community’s commitment to eliminating preventable medical errors and complications through the continued application of rigorous patient safety guidelines and practices such as:

Development of systems to diagnose malnourished patients and those at risk as well as nutrition care plans — and the involvement of an interdisciplinary team to execute the plan — within 48 hours of the diagnosis;

“ASPEN believes that malnutrition should never result from a lack of attention from clinicians or hospital resources and that every patient should be evaluated as a candidate for possible nutrition interventions,” said Guenter. “We strive to educate practitioners on the safest protocols for administering treatment to optimize patient outcomes when nutrition intervention is required.”

For more information about ASPEN’s commitment to patient safety, contact Juliet Glassroth or 301.461.4675.*For care providers who have full access to ASPEN’s library of resources.

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About ASPENThe American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) is dedicated to improving patient care by advancing the science and practice of nutrition support therapy and metabolism. Founded in 1976, A.S.P.E.N. is an interdisciplinary organization whose members are involved in the provision of clinical nutrition therapies, including parenteral and enteral nutrition. With more than 6,500 members from around the world,ASPEN is a community of dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, scientists, students, and other health professionals from every facet of nutrition support clinical practice, research, and education. Visit the ASPEN website for more information.